According to a 2009 study by AmericanLawyer.com, the morale of associate lawyers is at its lowest level in five years (2.7 on a scale of 1 to 5). Such dissatisfaction prompts many lawyers to depart for other careers within a few years, despite spending tens of thousands of dollars and three years of their lives on law school.

Even lawyers who stick with the profession sometimes do so under duress. Those who work for large law firms have typically received handsome compensation that affords them a nice lifestyle that some lawyers find challenging to walk away from.

If you’re a lawyer looking to reinvent yourself, the first thing to realize is that your legal training won’t be wasted.

“In the broadest terms, practicing law is about analyzing facts, solving problems, advocating a position, and communicating with clients and adversaries,” says Ms. Sommer. “I use these skills every day in my work as an entrepreneur.”

It’s particularly interesting to me since three of my favorite entrepreneurs pursued the law first. Who do you know that might help the Pittsburgh Entrepreneurial Community?